Talks and Teachings in Paonta (H. P.)

At the request, jointly by Zhalu Monastery and Cholsum Tibetan Settlement Paonta, in Himachal Pradesh state, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche departed Dharamshala by car in the morning of 25 August 2019, and upon arrival at Cholsum Tibean Settlement, was accorded a revered welcome by the Chief Officer of the settlement, the President of the settlement Co-operative, other officials, the officials of Zhalu Monastery, Sambhota Tibetan School’s Principal, teachers. staff members, students, and members of public.

In the evening of 26 August 2019, at the request of Sambhota Tibetan School, Paonta, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche bestowed blessing transmission of Manjushri Praise, a commentarial teaching and a guidance talk.

At the beginning, the school’s Principal gave a welcome speech and a report of the school’s works and activities, followed by some students presenting their learning by heart of Awareness and Reasoning Summaries in Verse, while some other students presented a discussion on Awareness and Reasoning.

Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche bestowed blessing transmission of Manjushri Praise, Your Intellect, a commentary on it and a guidance talk. His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche advised that, of the numerous problems in the world at present, the two that continue to be very critical crises are livelihood and environment, and that the students doing studies now need to think whether or not their studies become related to solving of these problems.

His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche also answered questions from the students. The session concluded with the school’s Headmaster giving a speech of gratitude to His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche.

In the evening of 26 August 2019, at the request of the Chief Officer, Cholsum Tibetan Settlement, Paonta, His Eminence Pof. Rinpoche gave a guidance talk to the elders—aged above 74 years—of the settlement. His Eminence advised the elders to look after their health, keep a relaxed mind, and try their best to do prayers and virtuous practices, and so forth.

In the morning of 27 August 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche performed consecration of the Enlightenment Stupa at Zhalu Monastery. Thereafter, His Eminence gave a public teaching—to the ordained congregation, the public, teachers, students and school staff members—on Going for Refuge; Karma, actions and results, and Generating Enlightenment Mind. Besides the locals of Paonta, there were a large number of people from neighbouring settlements that received the teaching.

In the morning of 28 August 2019, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a public talk, at the courtyard of Zhalu Monastery, on the requested theme of “How to think during the end part of one’s life.” At the beginning, the Chief Officer of Cholsum Tibetan Settlement, gave a welcome speech. Thereafter, His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche gave the talk, pointing out that the manner of thinking at the end part of one’s life would mainly depend on how one has been thinking in the earlier part of one’s life, and the end part of life ultimately is the time when one is about to die.

His Eminence, thereafter, gave guidance on the ways of thinking during the time when is about to die.

At the conclusion, Geshe Namgyal, of Zhalu Monastery, gave a gratitude speech. Besides the sangha, the public, teachers, staff members and students, of Paonta area, there were many who came to the talk from monasteries and settlements of other areas.

In the afternoon of 28 August 2019, at the request of Zhalu Monastery, His Eminence Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche gave a guidance talk, in the main congregation hall of the monastery, to the monastery’s officials.

In the morning of 29 August 2019, His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche departed Cholsum Tibetan Settlement, Paonta, and on the way performed consecration of Longevity Achieving Temple of Gongkar Monastery, Lakhanwala. The honourable Abbot of the monastery offered His Eminence a tenzhuk, a formal request to kindly continue to live long.

Thereafter, upon departing Dehradun for Mumbai, His Eminence Prof. Rinpoche was accorded a revered seeing off at the airport by the officials of Cholsum Tibetan Settlement, Zhalu Monastery, Tibetan Settlement (Lakhanwala) and Gongkar Monastery.